OT: Girls Crafting survey

[JuliaAM]

I would be enormously grateful if anyone was interested in filling out this survey for me. It would help me in my work. I like writing for American Girl but I'm branching out to other publishers as well. This is geared to 8-12 year old girls but please feel free to answer anyway if you have something to say about any of the questions. If your daughter/granddaughter/niece/class/etc is older or younger, please include the age. Just copy the text and fill in answers. You can send your response in a pm if you don't want to answer on the board. Thank you very much. [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

Julia
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1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?
2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts?
3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help?
4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement?
5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving?
6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them?
7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find?
8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most?
9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do?
10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies?
11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?
a. Time
b. Money
c. Access to materials
d. Patience
e. Difficult craft or instructions hard to understand
e. Not enough room to work
f. Lacking in confidence
12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?
a. Word processing
b. Photo editing software
c. Printing on various media, such as acetate or glossy photo paper.

[talentedtwelve12]

1. Yes, sometimes.

2. 12 years old sounds like an ok age, an adult should do it otherwise.

3. Yes. only wire cutters if the girl is 11+.

4. yes

5. yes

6. ????

7. craft store unless it's semi hard to find.. not much craft stores around her.

8. decopauge projects are awesome! Like, making decopauge plates, jewelery boxes, also I like beading and historical crafts.

9. No

10. Both. Kits are useful but expensive.

11. c, d, & e

12. a, b, & c since I was 10

[Samanthasmom]

1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?
I usually follow recommended ages
2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts?
Only with supervision not alone
3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help?
Yes she can with out help
4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement?
Yes,she does fine with it
5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving?
Yes very easily.
6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them?
The finished product makes her want to finish but I would say nothing more then a day.
7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find?
I several craft stores very local
8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most?
Just about anything but she really does enjoy making things for her dolls now.
9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do?
She has her own things she likes to do.
10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies?
Both, she likes to do both.
11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?

e. Difficult craft or instructions hard to understand

12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?

c. Printing on various media, such as acetate or glossy photo paper.

[MollyMolly]

1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?

Most of the time I follow the recommendations.

2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts?

10 at the youngest

3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help?

Yes

4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement?

Yes

5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving?

Sometimes

6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them?

When they are gifts

7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find?

Localy most of the time.

8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most?

Sewing,knitting, mini things that can be used as something for my dolls.

9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do?

No, not really.

10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies?

With her own supplies.

11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?

a. Time

12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?
a. Word processing
b. Photo editing software

[jlogemann17]

Daughters 8 & 10

1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?

I follow the recommendations for DD #1, but my 10 year old had some fine motor "issues" when she was younger- I don't expect her to do anything above age level. If it looked like something my kids would have liked to do together might try it with them when they were 6 & 8, but would have "helped". Both my kids were pretty good at staying on task, even at a young age.

2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts?

Neither daughter has used an x-acto knife, but I would let them both try it, with guidance if they needed it for a craft.

3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help?

Neither has, but I would let them.

4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement?

They've used my hot glue gun with help.

5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving?

DD#1 usually wants it done in 30 minutes or less, but DD#2 is much more patient. We have done craft projects that span 2 days, and science projects that span a week, but no craft we have tried has lasted longer than 2 - 1 hour sessions on 2 days (that was making salt dough stuff and then painting it the next day).

6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them?

Not really. DD#1 would just "hurry through" to get done, and it would turn out sloppy, DD#2 would just keep plodding along- she gets satisfaction just from doing it.

7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find?

Local

8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most?

painting, sewing (espectially DD#2), molding stuff from clay, scrapbooking

9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do?

They have taken up scrapbooking, which is my #1 craft of the moment, but neither seems too excited about cross-stitching, even though they've seen me do it and do like to sew.

10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies?

They like to work off directions. They want to choose the colors and styles, but want some leading in what to do. (except with painting- that they just do on their own). For example they both just made rag dolls from socks. They wanted to instructions, but they wanted to choose for themselves what color yarn to use for hair, if they were going to use buttons or fabric paint for the eyes, etc.

11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?
a. Time
b. Money
c. Access to materials
d. Patience
e. Difficult craft or instructions hard to understand
e. Not enough room to work
f. Lacking in confidence

a- time (during the school year), or my willingness to haul everything out and make the big mess on the kitchen table, which then has to be cleaned up before dinner, so I guess that would include e. (the second e)

12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?
a. Word processing
b. Photo editing software
c. Printing on various media, such as acetate or glossy photo paper.

both do word processing, and both do photo editing with assistance- they love to make pictures look goofy.


Hope this helps,
Jo

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ February 20, 2006 08:04 PM: Message edited by: mykidsloveAG ]</font>

[3castles]

1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?

I have taught crafts with various ages and I'll have to say, it depends on the craft. I always used my own judgement as to what the girl/girls can do. I never really pay much attention to the age recomendation on anything. Most of the times they are way too conservative. (except for small parts for under 3)

2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts?

I do let my 9 year old use an x-acto knife with close supervision. She has used one for a couple of years with help. I think if you're going to include using an x-acto in a kids craft book that you should have at least one page on craft knife safety. This may seem crazy but, trust me there are people out there that would give them an xacto and let them go!

3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help?

Yes. They are pretty safe and easy to use. My girl scout troup and 4-H club also used them with no problems.

4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement?

Yes, however, when I work with other girls other than my own, I make SURE to stress that Jewelry Cement is very permanent so BE CAREFUL!!!
This is more so that they don't strow glue everywhere. The fumes can be nasty on some of the jewelry cements though so we use them sparingly. Cool melt glue gun, NO PROBLEM!


5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving?

Sometimes, but I try to make sure that we do some in between that can be finished in one day. That way, she has an ongoing project and has several things that she can look back and feel a sense of accomplishment on.

6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them?

My daughter has been crafting since she was 2.
I am a stay at home mom that teaches craft classes so we are pretty much set up all the time. Because she was raised on crafts, she loves doing all kinds and will drive me crazy until she finishes them. She may be a little different that other girls. Some of my GS and 4-Hers are not as motivated to keep going on long projects.


7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find?

Most all local.

8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most?

Um, let's see...painting, scrapbooking, re-cyled crafts, things for her dolls and her room.
OOPS also things to give as gifts. We RARELY buy gifts, we usually make them all.

9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do?

Definately!

10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies?

She usually would prefer to work on her own with her own supplies unless the directions call for something that is almost impossible to find.
She likes to use her imagination and put her own mark on her crafts and that can be hard to do from a kit.

11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?

b. Money
e. Not enough room to work


12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?

c. Printing on various media, such as acetate or glossy photo paper.


Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Aunt Cornelia]

I PMed you with my replies, Julia. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[angelnise]

1. When a craft kit or book says for girls ages 8 ? 12, do you actually follow that recommendation? Or do you think your 6 year old should be able to handle the crafts in a book that is intended for ages 8-12?
As long as I can follow it, I still get it, but the book should specify whether or not they can do the crafts without adult supervision (quiet time for me)
2. Does your daughter use an x-acto knife? At what age do you plan on letting your daughter use a knife in crafts? No, and not until she's around fourteen and with my supervision.
3. Does your daughter use wire cutters or pliers without your help? Yes.
4. Do you let your daughter use glues other than plain tacky or craft glue, such as a cool melt glue gun or jewelry cement? Glue guns.
5. Does your daughter tire of crafts that have to be done over longer periods of time, say several days or even weeks, such as latch hook kits, knitting or weaving? Even I tire of those.
6. Does your daughter tackle projects that you feel might take too much time or effort? What inspires her to finish them? No.
7. Do you find most of your craft materials local, through the internet or are they hard to find? Some are hard to find. The around the house items especially because not everyone purchases the same things with the same frequency.
8. What crafts does your daughter like to do most? Stuff to make miniature things for her dolls.
9. Is your daughter influenced in her choice of crafts by watching what you like to do? No.
10. Does your daughter like kits best or does she like to work on her own with her own art supplies? Kits are always better because you have everything you need.
11. What is the most common setback when your daughter is working with crafts?

c. Access to materials
d. Patience
e. Difficult craft or instructions hard to understand


12. Does your daughter have any of these computer skills and/or interests?
Not really.
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[JuliaAM]

Many thanks to those who have responded to this survey. It is an enormous help to me. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] You just don't know how much. I am very grateful to those who have taken the time to answer! [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

Julia